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In its age-old rivalry against Mercedes-Benz for the hotly contested executive sedan segment, BMW always have a trump card against the entry-level 4-cylinder E-Class - the 'starter' 520i.
Traditionally, BMW's 6-cylinder series of engines was the minimum standard that one bought when they join the ranks of BMW owners. However, this isn't the norm anymore, since BMW joins the ranks of Audi and Mercedes-Benz to churn a four-pot into their 5 Series.
To most blue-white roundel aficionados, the 6-cylinder engine defined the brand and anything less was blasphemous. However, there's no challenging the fact that the 4-cylinder now found at the heart of the "new" (and dare we say improved) 520i, will appeal to an entirely new group of buyers and contests against other "4-potters"' in the likes of Mercedes-Benz E200 and Audi A6.
Traditionally, BMW's 6-cylinder series of engines was the minimum standard that one bought when they join the ranks of BMW owners. However, this isn't the norm anymore, since BMW joins the ranks of Audi and Mercedes-Benz to churn a four-pot into their 5 Series.
To most blue-white roundel aficionados, the 6-cylinder engine defined the brand and anything less was blasphemous. However, there's no challenging the fact that the 4-cylinder now found at the heart of the "new" (and dare we say improved) 520i, will appeal to an entirely new group of buyers and contests against other "4-potters"' in the likes of Mercedes-Benz E200 and Audi A6.
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Exterior
Aesthetic-wise, the 5 Series shape has borne the years well with only the most minimal of cosmetic changes, which are more evolution than correction. At a time when its rivals are starting to show their age, BMW's stalwart contender still boasts the familiar good looks that many have come to love and appreciated since the introduction of the E60 5 Series.
If there were ever a form that blended aggression with elegance, the 5 series exemplifies with muscular sculpting that eludes the rest, never mind the fact that it only has a 2.0-litre engine and the "520i" tag remains on the car's rump.
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Interior
For the most part, the cabin remains untouched except for the air-conditioning switches, which replace the automatic climate control toggles found in its larger-hearted brethren.
Apart from this, the quality of materials and overall equipment levels are still decently high, especially in light that this variant is intended to be an entry-level vehicle.
Driving it
The robust 4-cylinder displaces 1,995cc, and churns out 156bhp at 6,400rpm and 200Nm at 3,600rpm. Compared to the earlier 6-cylinder, the new car is more tractable and proves nimble enough to hustle around in urban traffic. There is adequate torque on tap to execute swift insertions into the breaks in traffic that surfaces from time to time. Most importantly, the 4-cylinder engine's performance is as slick and silky-smooth as any 6-cylinder unit - most would not detect any difference in performance and power delivery.
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Moving off from start-stop traffic isn't a chore many would expect, as the engine easily rouses the 1.5-tonnes vehicle from rest with minimum fuss. The century sprint comes in at 8.2 seconds, and the top speed is rated at 218km/h. In all conditions, the drive remains composed and the cabin is well-insulated against extraneous noises to keep the occupants in sublime comfort.
The driver enjoys a decent degree of "fun" when the urge calls for it and the absence of Active Steering means avid drivers enjoy a naturalistic steering feel. In contrast, this might feel "lacking" during the occasional high speed runs up and down the North-South Highway, but it's perfectly suited for swift progress in our city. Like the 530i, the 520i features the enhanced six-speed automatic transmission with the futuristic gear lever - gear-shifts are quicker and the cogs are swopped quickly and effectively.
The driver enjoys a decent degree of "fun" when the urge calls for it and the absence of Active Steering means avid drivers enjoy a naturalistic steering feel. In contrast, this might feel "lacking" during the occasional high speed runs up and down the North-South Highway, but it's perfectly suited for swift progress in our city. Like the 530i, the 520i features the enhanced six-speed automatic transmission with the futuristic gear lever - gear-shifts are quicker and the cogs are swopped quickly and effectively.
Sum up
In any case, judging by the drive and looks alone, it's obvious the 5 has its Teutonic rivals dead to sights. The 520i (A) is a convincing enough package to blow away the competitions.
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TECHNICAL SPECIFICATION
Engine: 1,995cc, 4-cylinders in-line
Power: 156bhp @ 6,400rpm
Torque: 200Nm @ 3,600rpm
Transmission: 6-speed automatic
0-100 km/h: 8.2 seconds
Length / Width / Height: 4,841 / 1,846 / 1,468 mm
Wheelbase: 2,888 mm
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